This webzine is online since August 2010 and is completely dedicated to Electronic Music (EM) identified as the Berlin School style and its derived. You will find interviews but mostly reviews of ambient, sequenced and symphonic EM with a glimpse on other related genres. You have questions or want your music to be reviewed? Please read the 123 FAQ section attentively. Bear in mind the main purpose of this Blog. So welcome in and I hope it will guide you into the wonderful world of EM.

lundi 1 février 2016

“This is a very good compilation, a very honest one which shows the various faces of René van der Wouden”

1 Prosa I 6:122 The Alchemists 10:283 Recreation III 9:424 Go Quiet 9:425 Sequential Tourism 16:066 Numerus Fixus Part VI (Extended version) 11:447 Gruga Platz IV 20:448 Kompass 6:049 Antartica Festivities 6:5610 Panavision 7:2611 Mosaic of Stars 7:0212 Sketch Two 6:1013 Red Moon passes the Earth 9:1414 La Contradiction 6:5615 Moon Movement 20:10REWO Music (DDL 154:36) **** (Lire en Français ici)(Mix of ambient and sequencer based EM)It has been already 10 years since Rene van der Wooden satisfies our ears with a EM thought in the influences of Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarreand Vangelis. Ten years for about 15 studio albums, between 2005 and 2015, of which a too much majority have passed beneath radars. A first compilation appeared in 2011, Sequential Mixed Up-The Best ofR EWO, that the Dutch synthesist offered, and still offer by the way, for a small contribution on his Bandcamp site or simply for free. “The First 10 Years” is a second compilation, also offered for a tiny contribution or totally free, which underlines those 10 years of Rene van der Wooden and which offers more than 2:30 hours of EM which oscillates between the phases of his influences and among which he also presents over 40 minutes of unreleased material written during the sessions of his last studio album, BauRauM.The main quality of this compilation is undoubtedly its selection. Contrary to several labels and/or artists which are going to favor a selection of catchy tracks, Rene van der Wooden offers rather a selection which is highly representative of his music. Of course there are tracks which seduce at the first tones! I think among other things of the floating rhythm of "Prosa I" and of its soft EM symbolic melody molded in the essences of Jarre. "Recreation III" is also a good piece of music with a jumpy structure of rhythm and with harmonic lines from a fluty synth. It's the kind of thing that will appeal to the fans of Tangerine Dream of their more contemporary era. "Go Quiet" is lively and cosmic. "Numerus Fixus Part VI" is unarguably the most known track of Rene van der Wooden's repertoire. And its extended version is always very appropriate. "Kompass" is another very track with movements of criss-crossed sequences which are also very jolly. There is also long more complex pieces of music which confirm this capacity of the Dutch artist to develop his rhythms, always very lively, in atmospheres of ether. And the melodies are always there. "The Alchemists", "Sequential Tourism", the very beautiful "Gruga Platz IV" as well as "Mosaic of Stars", this one I never heard before, are beautiful examples. Other tracks are more moderated, like "Antartica Festivities" and "Panavision". This last one shows the ambient side of Rene van der Wooden. In brief, it's a very honest glance throw over the career of the Dutch synth wizard. The new material starts with "Sketch Two". We are in the period of BauRauM. It's a very ambient track with a nice astral melody blown by chords which inhale the breaths of lyricism. I like that! It's very delicate and it's ideal to tame the insomnia, like "The Contradiction" which proposes on the other hand a more intense, a more dramatic environment which is always wrapped by the sigh of the Cosmos. "Red Moon passes the Earth" offers a nice sequenced melody which waves such as a sound snake through mists misted by metal and by electronic effects which are very near the repertoire of Vangelis. "Moon Movement" brings us towards a long, a more linear and a more convoluted movement with a concept of a sequence which skips in solo and whose variances in the tones and in the colors are pounding under a dense ambiocosmic coat. Sometimes the sequence unties some shadows to structure a short rhythmic storm which loses its breath rather quickly. So as I said higher, “The First 10 Years” is a very good compilation. It's a very honest compilation which shows the various faces of Rene van der Wooden who, atmospheres or rhythms, always succeeds to create a little something which seduces. And often, they are melodies! And don't forget, it's free! But a small donation, however small it is, gives to all these artists the financial means to explore a little more the universe of EM and the uncountable possibilities of the instruments which forges it. Like in this “The First 10 Years”!Sylvain Lupari (February 1st, 2016)

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Qui suis-je

Bonjour!
My name is Sylvain Lupari from Joliette in Quebec (Canada). I’m known as Phaedream all over the Internet since the beginning of 2000 where I started to write reviews. In 2005, I joined the French Webzine Guts of Darkness and on August 2010 I created a Blog, Synth & Sequences, which has reached the point of 1 000,000 visitors on February 2017 where I also wrote my 1354th review. In French and in English, I wrote more than reviews of EM albums.
This Blog is a huge success and reference about the music which sets my mind free over the years. Too many chronicles, so I have to split this Blog in several sections. Robert Schroeder is the first to welcome my thoughts on Webpress.
So, welcome to this part of my Blog Synth&Sequences which is devoted to the music, the tones and sounds of Aachen’s own Robert Schroeder.
Here you will find informations about his career and discography and latest news as well as deep reviews about his music, his albums.
My only wish is to guide you through his impressive career and may I suggest to visit regularly my Blog Synth & Sequences for more updates on EM.